Rapids ready to clinch playoff spot in Vancouver

Vancouver, BC (SportsNetwork.com) - By the time the Colorado Rapids take the
field at BC Place on Sunday against Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the club will have
likely already clinched a playoff spot.

The only way that Colorado will need a result against Vancouver is if San Jose
beats FC Dallas on Saturday and the Earthquakes score 13 more goals than the
Rapids.

So with such a remote outcome unlikely the Rapids will use Sunday's game as a
way to prepare for the playoffs while also potentially improving their
position in the Western Conference with a win.

Colorado enters the weekend tied with Seattle in fourth place, while the Los
Angeles Galaxy is just one point clear of both teams.

Seattle and Los Angeles will meet up on Sunday, which could allow Colorado to
move further up the table with a win.

And the team's captain, Drew Moor, would like to see his side take a bit of
momentum into the postseason.

"We don't just want to scrape into the playoffs and not be playing well," Moor
said. "We need to build on what we've created over the past couple months and
continue the momentum. We'll play well this week, and in my opinion regardless
of what San Jose does, this weekend is a bigger game because if we're in the
playoffs, we have to build some momentum as we go into it."

Colorado handed Vancouver a 3-2 defeat last weekend behind two goals from
Gabriel Torres, which eliminated the Whitecaps.

Vancouver made the playoffs last season so it is hard not to view this
campaign as a step back, which could mean the end of Martin Rennie's tenure
with the team.

"I would say that we were stagnant," Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi said
when assessing his team's season. "The competition in the division - it's
clear for everyone to see - other clubs upgraded, as did we, but just not
enough. Too many points dropped at key times.

"I would say that we probably maintained where we were, but most people would
view it as having regressed because we haven't made the playoffs."

Sunday's match could be the final one in charge for Rennie, but it will
definitely be the last for defender Lee Young-Pyo, who announced that he is
retiring at the end of the season.